The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-14


West Virginia occupied the right, the
One Hundred and Twenty.third Ohio the
centre aud the Ous hundred and Tenth
Ohio the left. Oarlin's Cattery occupied
an elevated position In tho rear OF the
infantry.
Our troopp, although many Of them had
never been under fire before, behaved
with the bravery and coolness Of veterans.
They suffered considerable loss. The One
Hundred and Tweniy.third ohio, which
occupied the most exposed part OF the
field, lost sixty.three In killed and Hound.
ed; the Twelfth West Virginia Loaf twonty,
two. Notwithstanding the exposed posi-.
ton OF the One Hundred and Twenty
third Ohio tho brave fellows fought with
an energy rarely equalle1. Their com
mauder, Colonel Wilson, did muoE BY bis
brave example to encourage his men AND N,
GAUGE them TO stand their ground. he
WIS ably uBsiDtsG by his field and line
oilicers. .t.0. - ...
Capt. Carlin's Battery did much execu'
ton on the enemy in this engagement.
Almcs; every shot from 1t told fearfully
upon their ranks. a,. t. ,f.,
At dark the firing ceased and shortly
after nightfall the Federal forces vera
Withdrawn into Winchester, and as 1t was
anticipated that the rebels would attack
the large fort northwest OF the town at
dawn OF day, our forces were all ords'ed
into the rifle pits surrounding 1t before
daylight. Contrary to all expectations
they did not attempt On attack that morn
ing. Shortly alter sunrise the larger por.
| os th, Nd nj il
tions around Winchester. The Eighty
seventh Pennsylvauis, tho Fifth Mary.
land and part OF the Sixty-ssventh Penn
sylvaria were stationed on the eastern
part OF the town; the Twelfth West Viz.
ginis and One Hundred and Twenty.sec.
ond Ohio OIL the southwestern, and the
One Hundred and Tenth Ohio on tho
northwestern, on what Is called the Pughr
town road. The other forces were 30 ar.
ranged as 10 encirc!e the city and lorts. a
continual skirmishing was carried on dur.
ing the day until 8 o'clock p. NJ. At one
time the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania had
quite eevers engagement With large
body OF rebels east OF the town. Our
troops were aided by howitzer and they
killed and wounded quite number Of the
rebels. Ven tr .s. s
To the hour OF 3 o'clock P, N. this day
l4tb) the enemy had not fired a cannon
This led many to believe that their artil-
lery was weak, aud that the attack upon
Winchester was not serious, but only a
feint to cover some other design. This
illusion was dispelled between 3 and 4
o'clock when they opened twenty guns on
our large fort from an emlnencs northeast
OF If. snd four from another eminence
south OF it. The cannousdin2 YVES iuces-
SAINT from that time until dark. Shortly
after the commencement OF the cannouad-
ing all tbs infantry regiments were order
edinto the rifle pits surrounding the fort
to be- in readiness to repel any attempt TO
take it by storm. In tho meantime the
rcbels succeeded in driving our forces
from one OF the two smaller forts and in
capturing the artillery belonging to it. Our
works at Winchester consisted OF one large
fort and two small ones. They made
several abortive attempts to capture the
other small one. Although the number
CT the eusmy's guns WAS much greater
than ours, and OF larger calibre, yet but
two or three casualties occurred in tho
large fort and riflo pits surrounding it. It
could not be ascertained what dsmags We
Inflicted upon the enemy, but if it was
not greater than VIZ received from them
there was vast expenditure OF ammuni-
ton with very small result. At dark the
firing ceased and the infantry were order
ed 10 sleep in the ritls pits. -
A: 10 O'Clock at night General Milroy
called o council OF war consisting OF his
Brigade Commander, Brigadier General
Elliott, Col. McReynolds Fret Natioual
Guard Cavalry, Keller Tenth Ohio In
iantry, and Col. Ely, Eighteenth C,nnect-
lieut. Infantry. The result Of the dileber-
alton Of this council WAS determination
to ovacuate the position We then occupied
at o'clock the next morning and il posi-
BILE to make our escape to the Baltimore &,
Ohio railroad. This stop was daemed ad.
visablo from the fact that it had been as
ce;tained that the force OF the enemy
around Winchester amounted to four or
five times as much gs ours, and further
moro our ammunition and provisions we're
almost exhausted; AT the time designated
We commenced our march silently in the
direction OF HArper's Ferry. Owing TO
the great fatigue which our troops had
undergone, and the obstruction which
would naturally intervene in the darkness
OF tho night, they made GLOW progress and
at dawn had advanced only four miles to
a point where the road leading to Harper's
Ferry divorces from that leading to Mar.
tinsburg. Hero We were attacked by a
division OF rebels with battery OF artil-
lery under General Walker who was wait.
ing in ambush for US. We had abandoned
our artillery at Winchester, leaving Cap
tain William Martins OF the Fourteenth
(now First) Massachusetts Heavy Artil-
lery, who had commanded the siege guns
in tho fort with much ability during the
engagement, 10 spike all the guns.
When the fire Of the enemy WAS opsntd
npon US, the Eighty.seventh Pennsylvania,
Ono Hundred and Tenth Ohio, Fifth
Maine, Eighteenth Connecticut and One
Hundred and Twenty.third Ohio imme-
distely took position and maintained the
action determinediy Tor some time, but
evidently at great disadvantage, owing
to the artillery OF the enemy, the grape
on our lines. After maintaining their
ground for some time our forces gave way,
but the brave and intrepid General Milroy
succeeded in ,rallying thu One Hundred
and Twenty-third Ohio, Eighty.eeven.h
Pennsylvania, Fifth Maryland and Eigh-
tenth Connecticut, with portions OF the
other regiments and made three desperate
charges upon the enemy'g artillery, but
our forces, notwithstanding their deter
mined bravery. were repulsed each time.
On retiring from The third charge the
brigade commander, Of tho second brigade,
Colonel Ely; Of the Eighteenth Connect.
cut, displayed a white Il .g in token OF sur.
rendering. Owing 10 the. position Of tho
Pennsylvania the majority
OF the officers and men made their escape. |
The Sixty.seveuth Pennsylvania had come
in contact with the enemy on another
part OF the field, aud being overpowered |
by superior numbers was compelled to |
surrender. Tho regiments surrendered |
by Colonel Ely were the Eighteenth Con-
Fifth Maryland aud One Hun.
ired and Twenty.third Ohio with several
ietachments from other regiments. a
Of tho Third West virginia